Milk can scrubber



Dec. 14, 1954 Filed May l2, 1952 H. R. PENDLETON 2,696,625

MILK CAN SCRUBBER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 O n y @.9 ,Z0 l i 42.9

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MILK cANscRUBBER Filed May 12, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 2,696,625 Patented Dec. 14, 1954V ice MLK CAN SCRUBBER Horner R. Pendleton, Fort Worth, Tex. Application May 12, V1952, Serial No. 287,291

3 Ciaims. (Cl. 15-72) This invention relates to devices for cleaning containers having relatively small necks such as milk cans, and in particular a scrubbing device including a plurality of brush elements flexibly mounted on a shaft and adapted to be contracted by springs for insertion through tne neck of a container and expanded by centrifugal force as the shaft rotates.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a scrubbing brush particularly adapted for milk cans that is adapted to correspond with the shape of the inner surface of the can and that is adapted to be expanded after being positioned in the can whereby the entire inner surface of the milk can is thoroughly cleaned.

Various types of scrubbing devices have been provided for cleaning inner surfaces of bottles, cans, and other types of containers `having relatively small necks, however, because of the size and shape of the inner surface of a milk container it is diicult `to thoroughly clean the entire inner surface with the usual type of expanding brush, or the like. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a pair of elongated brush elements having arcuate sections on one of the ends thereof with L-shaped sections on the opposite ends and with a straight brush positioned to overlap the L-shaped sections at one of the ends thereof whereby with the brush sections mounted by collapsible means on a shaft they are adapted to be contracted for insertion through the neck of a container and expanded when positioned in the container.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for forming a collapsible scrubbing brush so that brush elements thereof expand when rotated in a container and contract to facilitate inserting the brush in the container and removing the brush from the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible scrubbing brush for milk cans in which the parts i are shaped to correspond with the inner surface of a milk can.

A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible scrubbing brush for cleaning inner surfaces of milk cans in which the brush is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a shaft having a straight brush section secured in a clamp at one end thereof and with elongated oppositely disposed brush sections carried by arms pivotally mounted on the shaft and resiliently urged inwardly by springs whereby the said oppositely disposed brush sections are adapted to be contracted and expanded.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view illustrating the milk can scrubbing brush positioned on a stand with means for rotating the brush, with spaced parallel rails positioned for retaining a milk can in a cleaning position in relation to the brush, and showing a brush in the collapsed position With the brush entering the milk can.

Figure 2 is a view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l showing a section through the upper part of the stand, the lower part of the stand being shown in elevation.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through a portion of the stand showing a milk can in section and illustrating the brush in the collapsed position.

Figure 4 is a similar section showing the brush expanded in the milk can.

Figure 5 is a cross section through the device taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3 showing the brush collapsed and in the position of passing through the neck of `va ,milk can.

Figure 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of Fig'. 4.

Figure 7 is a section taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 4, .illustrating the relative positions of the brush section in :the outer end of the milk can.

Figure 8 is a detail, with the parts shownon an enlarged scale, illustrating one of the clamps for securing the longitudinally disposed brush sections on the ends of arms pivotally mounted on the shaft.

Figure 9 is a detail also showing the parts on anenlarged scale showing a section of a clamp mounted on the end of a shaft upon which the brush is supported and showing a section through the straight brush section at the end of the shaft. l

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved milk can scrubbing brush of this invention includes longitudinally disposed brush sections 10 and 11, an end brush section i2, a support 13 upon which the sections 10 and 11 are carried with arms 14 and 1S that are urged inwardly by springs 16 and 17, respectively, and a shaft 18 upon which the elements of the brush are mounted.

The brush sections itl and l1 are provided with channel shaped backs i9 and 20 in which the bristles are secured, as illustrated in Fig. 8, and the backs are secured .in recesses 2l in the outer ends of the arms 14 and 1S with clamps 22 that are secured in position by wing nuts 23 threaded on studs 24. The outer ends of the arms 1,4 and i5 are provided with slots 25 that receive flanges'26 `on the edges of the channels i9 and 20 and similar slots 27 are provided in the clamps 22 for receiving channels 28 on the opposite sides of the back.

The brush section l2 at the end of the shaft is also provided with a channel shaped back 29 that is secured in a clamp having a base 30 and a side l.plate 31, ythe side plate being secured to the base with a wing nut 32 lona threaded stud 33. The base 3@ is provided with agroove 34 in which the flange on one side of the channel shaped back 29 is positioned and a similar groove is provided in the plate 31, as indicated by the numeral 35, for receiving the flange on the opposite side of the back 29. The base 30 is provided with a hub 36 that is secured to the end of the shaft 18 with a set screw 37.

With the brush sections mounted in this manner they may readily be removed and replaced and the positions thereof are readily adjustable in relation to the inner surface of a container.

The support is provided with a hub 38 that is positioned on the shaft 13 andthe arms 14 and 15 are pivotally mounted in bifurcated ends of the support with pins 39 and 4t?, respectively, the ends of the pins being extended at one side of the support providing anchoring means for the springs 16 and 17. The outer ends 41 and 42 of the springs extend over the arms 14 and 15, and the opposite ends are connected with loops 43 that are positioned around the shaft 1S whereby the springs are held so that the outer ends urge the arms 14 and 15 inwardly to positions as illustrated in Fig. 3.

The springs are positioned to urge thhe brush sections 10 and 11 to move inwardly toward the shaft whereby the brush is maintained in a collapsed position as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5 The brush sections 10 and lll are provided with arcuate outer ends 44 and 45 and L-shaped sections 46 and 47, respectively, are provided on the opposite ends to correspond with the base of a milk can, as indicated by the numeral 48.

The shaft 18 is supported by a tubular section 49 that is mounted in a hub 5t) on a bracket 51 extended from a vertically disposed post 52 and set collars 53 and 54 may be provided at the ends of the hub for securing the tubular support in position. The shaft 18 extends through the tubular support and the end thereof extended from the opposite end of the hub is provided with a pulley 55 over which a belt 56 from a motor pulley 57 is trained. The pulley 57 is mounted on a shaft 58 of a motor 59, as illustrated in Figs. l and 2.

The post 52 is also provided with a bracket 60 having outwardly` extended arms 61 and 62 and parallel bars 63 and 64 are carried in hubs 65 and 66, respectively in the outer ends of the arms.

The bars 63 and 64 are also supported by a post 67 with outwardly extended arms 68 and 69 at the upper end in the ends of which the parallel bars are positioned.

The posts 52 and 67 are mounted on a base 70, however, it will be understood that the posts may be supported by other suitable means and the parallel bars may also be held in position for supporting a milk can, as illustrated in Fig. l, or by other means.

With the parts arranged in this manner and particularly with the brush and operating instrumentalities therefor positioned on a stand, milk cans, or the like may be held in a horizontal position and placed upon the parallel bars 63 and 64, as shown in Fig. l whereby, with the brush elements collapsed the can may be passed over the brush until it arrives at the position shown in Fig. 4 whereby as the shaft rotates the brush elements are expanded to contact the entire inner surface of the can.

After the cleaning operation the brush elements are contracted by the springs and the brush is drawn from the can.

It will be understood that modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. ln a container cleaning device, the combination which comprises a shaft, a clamp mounted on the end of the shaft, a brush carried by the clamp on the end of the shaft and positioned in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, a support having laterally disposed ends mounted on the shaft and spaced from the clamp at the end of the shaft, arms pivotally mounted in the ends of the support, clamps positioned on the extended ends of the arms, resilient means urging the extended ends of the arms toward the shaft, and oppositely disposed brush elements carried by the clamps on the ends of the arms and positioned in a plane extended through the axis of the shaft, said resilient means comprising a spring having a loop mounted on said shaft, pins pivotally connecting said arms to said support, a series of loops on said spring circumposed on said pins, said spring in its normal position being folded upon itself so that the end portions of the spring are normally adjacent the shaft whereby upon rotation of the shaft, the brush elements are thrown out to contact the inside wall of the container.

2. In a container cleaning device, the combination which comprises a shaft, a clamp mounted on the end of the shaft, a brush carried by the clamp on the end of the shaft and positioned in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, a support having laterally disposed ends mounted on the shaft and spaced from the clamp at the end of the shaft, arms pivotally mounted in the ends of the support, clamps positioned on the extended ends of the arms, resilient means urging the extended ends of the arms toward the shaft, and oppositely disposed brush elements carried by the clamps on the ends of the arms and positioned in a plane extended through the axis of the shaft, said oppositely disposed brush elements having L- shaped sections on ends thereof positioned adjacent the brush mounted on the end of the shaft and having arcuate sections on the opposite ends, said resilient means comprising a spring having a loop mounted on said shaft, pins pivotally connecting said arms to said support, a series of loops on said spring circumposed on said pins, said spring in its normal position being folded upon itself so that the end portions of the spring are normally adjacent the shaft whereby upon rotation of the shaft, the brush elements are thrown out to contact the inside wall of the container.

3. The apparatus as described in claim l, and further including a base, and horizontally disposed spaced parallel bars supported above said base for supporting a container to be cleaned.

References Cited in the le of this patent Frankland et al June 16, 1925 

